It was Lennon & McCartney night and not only did the kids pretty much rise to the occasion, no one sang "Imagine"! How many times have we heard that song trampled?

Mad Men is, sadly, off the air till the summer. But it is definitely on a roll. Earlier in January, it won as best dramatic series at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Producers Guild, among others.

I like Lost. A lot. I've watched it from its spectacular cinematic beginning in the fall of 2004. I've probably seen every episode. And I'm still not sure what's really going on.

Buddy Holly died with little realization of what his legacy would become. He changed the course of history and filled our torn times with melodies that transcended the era in which they were written.

What fascinates is remembering the B-52s as in George DuBose's 1978 photograph, or Ike and Tina in 1962, as in Ernest C. Withers' photo, or Amy Arbus' 1983 Madonna before Kabbalah.

British New Waver Ian Dury's keen wit, social criticism and generosity of spirit inspires the following reasons for cheer during this tough holiday season.